Kozmani Church

The Kozmani Church of Saint Cosmas and Damian is a historic Christian sanctuary positioned near the vital Rikoti Pass within the Kharagauli Municipality. Perched on a forested ridge of the Likhis Kedi (Likhi Range), this sacred mountain site provides a deep sense of isolation and spiritual peace away from the busy main highways. Dedicated to the holy unmercenary healers Cosmas and Damian, the site remains a deeply respected place of local pilgrimage where nature and ancient regional faith come together.

Geographical Context and the Likhi Range

The sanctuary is built on the high ridges of the Likhi Range, the essential geographical spine that divides Georgia into its eastern and western territories. This specific location impacts both its climate and its historical role. Surrounded by thick deciduous forests of beech, hornbeam, and chestnut, the site looks out over complex mountain valleys. Historically, these ridges served as natural defense barriers and safe havens during regional conflicts, allowing small mountain sanctuaries like Kozmani to preserve their cultural practices and architectural structures undisturbed through centuries of shifting regional rule.

Cultural Heritage and the Kozmanoba Celebration

The church represents traditional Georgian Orthodox rural architecture, built primarily with local limestone and sandstone blocks designed to withstand harsh high-altitude weather. While the structure has undergone periodic restorations to preserve its walls and roofing, it retains the simple, unadorned layout typical of monastic mountain chapels. The true cultural importance of the site comes alive during Kozmanoba, an annual religious festival celebrated on November 18. On this day, local believers and pilgrims from nearby villages climb the forest trails to the church to participate in liturgy, share communal meals, and maintain centuries-old vows of healing and gratitude associated with its patron saints.